NCLD Statement on the Alternate Assessment Provision in The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015

WASHINGTON — National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) Executive Director Emeritus James H. Wendorf issued the following statement on the assessment provisions within the Senate’s bipartisan Elementary and Secondary Education Act proposal sponsored by Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.). NCLD will issue a broader statement on The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 in the coming days.

“The National Center for Learning Disabilities, which works on behalf of the 1 in 5 children with learning and attention issues and their families, commends Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray for their bi-partisan leadership as demonstrated in the introduction of The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015.

While NCLD will issue a broader statement on key aspects of The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 in the coming days, we must underscore the significance of one critical proposal included in this bi-partisan legislation: the meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities in the assessment system.

The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 rightly requires a state-level 1% cap on the use of the Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards. This recognizes the reality that the overwhelming majority of students with disabilities can – and do – take the general assessment with or without accommodations. We commend Senators Murphy (D-Conn.) and Casey (D-Penn.) for their leadership on this issue and commitment to students with disabilities. This 1% cap will help ensure that more students with disabilities are able to graduate high school ready to pursue their college and career dreams.

NCLD has long advocated for the 1% policy and applauds this bi-partisan effort to see it to fruition.”